Overexpression of 5-lipoxygenase in rat and human esophageal adenocarcinoma and inhibitory effects of zileuton and celecoxib on carcinogenesis

Purpose: Aberrant arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, especially through the cyclooxygenase (Cox) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox) pathways, has been suggested to play an important role in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of 5-Lox in EAC of a rat model and in human samples as well as the chemopreventive effects of zileuton (a specific 5-Lox inhibitor) and celecoxib (a specific Cox2 inhibitor) in the rat EAC model. Experimental Design: 5-Lox expression in EAC of a rat esophagogastroduodenal anastomosis model and of humans was examined with immunohistochemistry. A chemoprevention study was designed to test whether zileuton and celecoxib could suppress aberrant AA metabolism and esophageal adenocarcinogenesis. Results: With immunohistochemistry, we found that 5-Lox was overexpressed during esophageal adenocarcino-genesis in our rat model and in humans. In the chemoprevention study, EAC incidence was reduced in a dose-dependent manner from 68.8% (11 of 16) to 44.4% (8 of 18; P > 0.05) and 31.3% (5 of 16; P < 0.05) by 500 and 1,000 ppm zileuton, respectively, and to 33.3% (7 of 21; P < 0.05) and 20% (3 of 15; P < 0.05) by 500 and 1,000 ppm celecoxib, respectively. With isobolographic analysis, zileuton and celecoxib, both at a dose of 500 ppm, had an additive effect by reducing the tumor incidence to 16.7% (3 of 18, P < 0.01). Leukotriene B₄ and prostaglandin E₂ levels in the esophageal tissues were also significantly reduced by zileuton and celecoxib. Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrated that 5-Lox and Cox2 play important roles in the development of EAC. Both zileuton and celecoxib had inhibitory effects on esophageal adenocarcinogenesis through inhibition on their respective enzymes of AA metabolism.